The NOVA laser fusion experiment at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California

Question

The NOVA laser fusion experiment at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California uses energy at the rate of 1014W (roughly 100 times the output of all the world's power plants) while its lasers are on. However, one laser pulse lasts for only 109s . Only about 0.17 % of the capacitor energy actually appears as light. How much light energy is delivered in one pulse? If the capacitor bank supplying this energy has a tatal capacitance of 0.29F. What is the potential difference across the capacitor when the bank is fully charged?

Explanation / Answer

light energy delivered in one pulse = 1014*10*0.17/100 = 14.196 Joule per pulse

energy stored in capacitor = 1/2*C*V^2 = 1014*10

V = sqrt(10140*2/(0.29)) = 264.44 Volts

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